All You Need To Know
Do you want your dog to taste the rich flavor of parmesan cheese?
But are you thinking that whether dogs can eat parmesan cheese? If yes this guide will answer all your questions about feeding parmesan cheese to dogs and what are the few potential dangers of doing so.
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Dog parents are always looking for new items to add to their pet’s existing diet. They want to make sure their dogs enjoy the same divine flavors as they do but are very apprehensive about their beloved four-legged friend’s health. So read on to find out if you can expand your dog’s food menu by adding parmesan cheese to it.
Can Dogs Eat Parmesan Cheese?
To simply answer this question: Yes! Dogs can surely eat parmesan cheese. There is nothing wrong with treating your dog to this delight every now and then. In fact, parmesan cheese is rich in certain nutrients that are actually quite good for your canine health. But as with everything make sure you don’t go overboard with it and start doling out parmesan cheese to your dog for each meal. Try to go for a small serving as a side dish to each meal to give your pet a new flavor to savor. However, if your canine friend is allergic to certain cheese products or suffers from lactose intolerance then it’s probably not a good idea to feed them parmesan cheese.
Nutritional Value of Parmesan Cheese
Before diving into the details of the pros and cons of feeding parmesan cheese to your pet dog, let’s first have a look at its nutritional content. This will let you know whether your dog should be allowed to eat parmesan cheese or not based on his body and health status.
100 grams of Parmesan Cheese contains
- Calories 392 grams
- Proteins 35.71 grams
- Fats 25 grams
- Carbohydrates 3.57 grams
- Fibre 0 grams
Moreover, parmesan cheese is also a very rich source of the following nutrients.
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6 and B12
Surprisingly, parmesan cheese is very low on lactose despite being a dairy product. Also, as it is evident, parmesan cheese is highly nutritious and a good source of vitamins and minerals.
How Is Parmesan Cheese Good For Your Dog?
Due to the rich nutritional value of parmesan cheese is highly beneficial for your dogs when given in moderate amounts. Following are the health benefits of feeding parmesan cheese to dogs.
- Low in Lactose: This is a major plus point of parmesan cheese. As many dogs are lactose intolerant and cannot consume dairy products they are deprived of many other essential nutrients present in dairy. Parmesan cheese has a low content of lactose and doesn’t cause the troublesome symptoms of indigestion.
So if your dog suffers from lactose intolerance, parmesan cheese can be a good source of fulfilling their nutritional requirement from dairy products.
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- Good for Bones: As you already saw, parmesan cheese is rich in calcium and phosphorus. These are the minerals that are responsible for bone formation and ossification. Low calcium intake can make your dog suffer from osteoporosis. This means they will have fragile and weak bones making them susceptible to fractures.
Therefore it’s a good idea to supplement your dog’s diet with parmesan cheese and provide the necessary dose of calcium. This will improve their bone health and eliminate the risk of bone-related problems.
- Rich in Vitamins and Minerals: Parmesan cheese is a good source of vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, Vitamin B12, potassium, and zinc. Vitamin A is good for your dog’s skin and vision while Vitamin B12 is important for DNA synthesis and anemia prevention. The provision of these nutrients also improves your canines’ fur growth and thickness.
- Good Source of Protein: Incorporation of parmesan cheese into your dog’s diet is also beneficial because it is a rich source of easily digestible proteins and essential amino acids. This means your dog can easily digest the protein and also receive amino acids that the body cannot make on its own.
This allows your pooch to have strong muscles and a good physique.
Will Parmesan Cheese Hurt My dog?
Apart from all the benefits of parmesan cheese for your dog, you should be cautious not to overfeed it to your dog. Also, if your dog already suffers from conditions like kidney or heart disease, you must refrain from giving parmesan cheese to them.
This is because parmesan cheese has a very high sodium content of sodium. This means it is rich in salt and can cause high blood pressure. A raised blood pressure is the last thing you’d want your adorable dog to suffer from as it leads to lethal conditions like kidney damage and heart attack. If your dog is already hypertensive then avoid feeding parmesan cheese or any other salty food to them.
Another reason you must not excessively feed parmesan cheese to your dog is that it is high in fats and calories. This can lead to obesity which is a source of multiple health problems. So to be on the safe side, give measured portions of parmesan cheese to your pooch.
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Lastly, overconsumption of parmesan cheese can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. These symptoms can manifest in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, and bloating.
How To Give Parmesan Cheese to Your Dog?
It is always best to give finely cut or grated cheese to your dog. This is to prevent any slightly big chunk of parmesan cheese from entering their airway and causing choking. This is especially true for small brachycephalic dogs like French bulldog and Boston terrier. Another good way to incorporate parmesan cheese into your four-legged bud’s diet is to sprinkle it on their food. This improved the taste of their food and has no risk of blocking airways.
How Much Parmesan Cheese Is Enough For My Dog?
The amount of parmesan cheese your dog should consume in a day depends on their body size. For a small breed, half a teaspoon per serving is sufficient. While for bigger dogs one to one and a half teaspoons of parmesan cheese per serving is fine.
This is if your dog doesn’t suffer from any allergies or high blood pressure. In this case, you shouldn’t allow parmesan cheese at all.
How To Tell If Your Dog Had Too Much Parmesan Cheese?
If your dog had a lot of parmesan cheese at once then you should look out for signs like vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, or constipation. You should immediately remove parmesan cheese from their diet and let them have a lot of water. If your dog still feels sick, it’s best to consult a vet.
Moreover, if your dog has recently gained a lot of weight it might be due to the large portion of parmesan cheese you serve.
The Bottom Line
It is safe to say that parmesan cheese is a good addition to your dog’s diet. Dogs not only enjoy eating parmesan cheese but it also provides them with important nutrients. Moreover, since it’s lactose-free, it can be safely consumed by lactose intolerant dogs.
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However, you must make it a point to serve parmesan cheese to your dog in moderation. This is to reduce the risk of high sodium levels that cause a number of harmful conditions like high blood pressure. So keeping in view your dog’s size and health, the nutritional benefits, and potential side effects of parmesan cheese for dogs you must serve parmesan cheese to your dog accordingly.